American parents join their kids in hating school, with Gallup polling falling to record low

Nearly a third of American adults now report feeling dissatisfied with the quality of K-12 education, according to a Gallup poll published this week. The rating represents an 11-point decline over just two years, marking the lowest level Gallup has recorded in 27 years of polling on the subject. Meanwhile, dissatisfaction among Americans has reached a high of 67%, with only 32% expressing satisfaction with the U.S. school system.

Experts warn that the findings are deeply troubling, as political division and concerns about schools' ability to prepare students for college and careers are driving the decline. Democrats are particularly to blame, with their satisfaction dropping by nearly 19 points since President Donald Trump's second term began in 2025. Republicans have also seen a slight drop in satisfaction, about 6 points.

The Trump administration has exacerbated public doubts by portraying schools as battlegrounds for political ideologies, raising concerns over teacher speech and the elimination of diversity programs and the Education Department. The decline in satisfaction can be attributed to several factors beyond politics. Gallup polling shows that public confidence in schools has been waning since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to academic setbacks, mental health issues and other concerns.

Headlines have consistently highlighted a national drop in test scores, especially in reading, which has fueled worries about schools' ability to recover from pandemic-related losses.